dear delegate, - smbe

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Dear Delegate, We are pleased to confirm your place at The Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution Annual Meeting 2017. Taking place from 2 nd – 6 th July, 2017 in Austin, Texas, SMBE 2017 will explore a diversity of topics - genomics, proteomics, molecular biology and evolution and will see over 1,500 attendees from around the world. Please find information inside which you may find useful. Should you have any questions please email the meeting secretariat at [email protected] This document outlines information on the following: Transport .......................................................................................................................................................................1 Austin Bergstrom International Airport ................................................................................................................1 Travel from Airport to City Center / JW Marriott Hotel ........................................................................................1 Overview Map to South Terminal Austin Airport .................................................................................................1 Transportation Network Companies ....................................................................................................................1 Public Buses ..........................................................................................................................................................1 Super Shuttle – Austin Airport Service ..................................................................................................................2 Rental Car Companies ...........................................................................................................................................2 Taxis ......................................................................................................................................................................2 Accommodation ............................................................................................................................................................2 Hyatt Regency .......................................................................................................................................................3 Student Accommodation – Austin Dorms ............................................................................................................3 Local Area Map .....................................................................................................................................................4 Meeting venue ...............................................................................................................................................................4 JW Marriott Hotel .................................................................................................................................................4 Local Information ..................................................................................................................................................4 Pool Access ...........................................................................................................................................................4 Smoking ................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Accessibility ...........................................................................................................................................................4 Emergency Numbers and Dialing Codes ...............................................................................................................5 Amenities in the JW Marriott Hotel: .....................................................................................................................5 The Venue Floorplan......................................................................................................................................................6 Registration and Payment .............................................................................................................................................7 Registration Details ...............................................................................................................................................7 Payment for the Meeting ......................................................................................................................................7 Onsite Registration ...............................................................................................................................................8 Receipt of Payment ...............................................................................................................................................8 Meeting Information .....................................................................................................................................................8

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Dear Delegate,

We are pleased to confirm your place at The Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution Annual Meeting 2017. Taking

place from 2nd – 6th July, 2017 in Austin, Texas, SMBE 2017 will explore a diversity of topics - genomics, proteomics,

molecular biology and evolution and will see over 1,500 attendees from around the world.

Please find information inside which you may find useful. Should you have any questions please email the meeting

secretariat at [email protected]

This document outlines information on the following:

Transport ....................................................................................................................................................................... 1

Austin Bergstrom International Airport ................................................................................................................ 1

Travel from Airport to City Center / JW Marriott Hotel ........................................................................................ 1

Overview Map to South Terminal Austin Airport ................................................................................................. 1

Transportation Network Companies .................................................................................................................... 1

Public Buses .......................................................................................................................................................... 1

Super Shuttle – Austin Airport Service .................................................................................................................. 2

Rental Car Companies ........................................................................................................................................... 2

Taxis ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Accommodation ............................................................................................................................................................ 2

Hyatt Regency ....................................................................................................................................................... 3

Student Accommodation – Austin Dorms ............................................................................................................ 3

Local Area Map ..................................................................................................................................................... 4

Meeting venue ............................................................................................................................................................... 4

JW Marriott Hotel ................................................................................................................................................. 4

Local Information .................................................................................................................................................. 4

Pool Access ........................................................................................................................................................... 4

Smoking ................................................................................................................................................................ 4

Accessibility ........................................................................................................................................................... 4

Emergency Numbers and Dialing Codes ............................................................................................................... 5

Amenities in the JW Marriott Hotel: ..................................................................................................................... 5

The Venue Floorplan...................................................................................................................................................... 6

Registration and Payment ............................................................................................................................................. 7

Registration Details ............................................................................................................................................... 7

Payment for the Meeting ...................................................................................................................................... 7

Onsite Registration ............................................................................................................................................... 8

Receipt of Payment ............................................................................................................................................... 8

Meeting Information ..................................................................................................................................................... 8

Language ............................................................................................................................................................... 8

Childcare ............................................................................................................................................................... 8

Delegate Badges ................................................................................................................................................... 8

WIFI Access ........................................................................................................................................................... 8

Social Media .......................................................................................................................................................... 9

Catering ................................................................................................................................................................. 9

Welcome Reception .............................................................................................................................................. 9

Fireworks .............................................................................................................................................................. 9

Conference Dinner ................................................................................................................................................ 9

Conference Dinner – After Party......................................................................................................................... 10

Dietary Requirements ......................................................................................................................................... 10

Delegate Program ............................................................................................................................................... 10

Conference App .................................................................................................................................................. 10

Certificate of Attendance .................................................................................................................................... 10

Evaluation Forms (Online) .................................................................................................................................. 10

SMBE 2017 Abstracts .......................................................................................................................................... 10

Oral and Poster Presentations ..................................................................................................................................... 11

Presenter Guidelines ........................................................................................................................................... 11

Poster Printing in Austin ..................................................................................................................................... 11

SMBE2017 Exhibition ................................................................................................................................................... 12

Exhibition Timetable ........................................................................................................................................... 13

Career’s Fair Day – Connecting talent with jobs ................................................................................................. 13

General Information .................................................................................................................................................... 13

Entry Requirements ............................................................................................................................................ 13

Health Insurance ................................................................................................................................................. 14

Travel Insurance .................................................................................................................................................. 14

Emergency Numbers and Dialing Codes ............................................................................................................. 14

Currency .............................................................................................................................................................. 14

Language ............................................................................................................................................................. 14

Climate ................................................................................................................................................................ 14

Smoking .............................................................................................................................................................. 14

Banks and Exchange Offices ................................................................................................................................ 14

Conference policies ..................................................................................................................................................... 15

Austin map ................................................................................................................................................................... 16

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Transport

Austin Bergstrom International Airport

Austin Bergstrom International Airport has two Terminals:

Barbara Jordan Terminal

As the original terminal serving Austin-Bergstrom International Airport since it opened in 1999,

the Barbara Jordan Terminal is accessed from SH-71.

Airlines serving the Jordan Terminal

South Terminal

The new South Terminal is accessed only from the south boundary of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

campus. The south side of the airport is accessed by Burleson Road. From Burleson Road, take Emma Browning

Avenue to the South Terminal. Currently, only Allegiant Air and ViaAir depart from the South Terminal. All other

airlines depart from the Barbara Jordan Terminal.

Airlines serving the South Terminal

Travel from Airport to City Center / JW Marriott Hotel

Overview Map to Barbara Jordan Terminal Austin Airport

Overview Map to South Terminal Austin Airport

Transportation Network Companies

Fasten

GetMe

Lyft

RideAustin

Uber

Wingz

zTrip

For discount codes on transports and any other please click here.

Public Buses

Capital Metro is Austin's regional public transportation provider. There are two main bus lines heading downtown

and north Austin. The bus (100 Airport Flyer) is the most inexpensive way to travel to/from the airport. It costs only

$1.25 (exact amount required), leaves every half hour, and stops at 4th Street and Trinity, which is four blocks from

the meeting venue (2nd Street, between Bravos and Congress).

For more information please take a look at:

100 - Airport Flyer: Connecting airport and downtown

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Super Shuttle – Austin Airport Service

In Austin, Super Shuttle is one of the leading airport transportation providers. Use Super Shuttle for transportation

to and from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS). Prior reservation is required, fee: 15 USD (one way).

For more information take a look at https://www.supershuttle.com/locations/austinaus/

Rental Car Companies

Car Rental Location Contact Number

Avis Car Rental 3819 Presidential Boulevard

Austin TX-78719

512-356-3510

Budget Rent a Car 3819 Presidential Boulevard

AustinTX-78719

512-356-3519

Taxis

There should be no trouble finding a cab in Austin. There are dozens of taxis and shuttles waiting at the Airport exits

to offer passengers top-quality. Minimum fare for taxi customers is $12.30, this includes a $1.00 airport surcharge.

All taxis have a four passenger maximum, excluding children 12-years and under. All taxis accept major credit cards.

The estimated average taxi fare to get to the venue (JW Marriott) is around $30 (one way).

ATX CO Op 512-333-5555

Austin Cab 512-478-2222

Lone Star Cab 512-836-4900

Yellow Cab 512-452-9999

Accommodation

If you booked your hotel accommodation via the meeting registration link or through the Meeting Secretariat then

you will have received a confirmation of your booking by email. Bookings are room only. Your booking will be under

your name at your chosen hotel. Please see a list of contact details of the meeting hotels below.

JW Marriott Austin

Situated in the heart of the downtown area, the Austin luxury hotel is just a 15-minute drive from Austin

International Airport.

Address:

110 E 2nd St

Austin, Texas 78701

Phone: +1-512-474-4777

Accessibility: The JW Marriott is fully wheelchair accessible. 32

guest rooms are accessible with mobility features with entry or

passage doors that provide 32” of clear width.

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Accessible guest rooms have a 32 inch wide opening. Please mare sure to confirm to the organizer if you need a

wheelchair accessible room in order to guarantee availability.

Smoking: The JW Marriott Hotel is a non-smoking hotel. Smoking is prohibited in the hotel, except in designated

smoking areas which will be outside the main entrance.

For more information please visit the Hotel’s Website: https://www.jwmarriottaustin.com

Hyatt Regency

Discover the lifestyle comforts of home and modern

essentials of staying mobile at the Hyatt Regency Austin.

Relax, work, or entertain in the perfect hotel room in Austin.

Address:

208 Barton Springs Rd

Austin, TX 78704, USA

Phone: +1 512 477 1234

Fax: +1 512 480 2069

Email: [email protected]

Accessibility: The public area of the hotel is fully wheelchair accessible. They also have wheelchair accessible room.

Smoking: The Hyatt Regency Hotel is a non-smoking hotel. Smoking is prohibited in the hotel, except in designated

smoking areas which will be outside.

Transport: The meeting venue is a 12 minute walk from the Hyatt.

For more information please visit the Hotel’s Website: https://austin.regency.hyatt.com

Student Accommodation – Austin Dorms

Dobie Twenty21 Student Spaces is the only private dorm in

Austin that is a part of the University of Texas campus. It is

conveniently located across the street from the Six Pack,

Darrell K. Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium, and the electrifying

energy on the Drag.

Address:

2021 Guadalupe Street

Austin, Texas 78701

Phone: +1 877 340-4072

Smoking: Dobie Twenty21 is a non-smoking student accommodation.

Transport: The meeting venue is a 30 minute walk from the Dobie Twenty21 and can be also reached by bus.

Please take the bus line 3 Burnet/Manchaca to get to the venue. For more information please click here.

For more information please visit the Hotel’s Website: http://www.dobietwenty21.com

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Local Area Map

Austin is well known for its vibrant restaurant and bar scene, and the most exciting Austin entertainment districts

are all within walking distance from the conference hotel. Learn more about individual entertainment districts here,

and find them on a map here.

Meeting venue

JW Marriott Hotel

110 E 2nd St

Austin, Texas 78701

Phone: +1-512-474-4777

The JW Marriott Austin hotel opened in the beginning of 2015 is situated in the heart of Austin, just a 15-minute

drive from Austin International Airport.

Here, you’ll experience the quiet luxury of a JW Marriott hotel with 1,012 elegant, oversized guest rooms, countless

amenities and a superior location near some of the best attractions and entertainment options Austin has to offer –

including the Sixth Street Entertainment District, University of Texas and the Texas State Capitol. Both business and

leisure travelers alike will appreciate the variety of on-site restaurants, extensive state-of-the-art fitness center,

outdoor pool and deck and much more, the perfect location for SMBE2017.

Local Information

A number of local staff will be available at the SMBE 2017 registration & information desks located in the main lobby

for the duration of the Meeting.

The JW Marriott Hotel Concierge is also located in the lobby of the hotel and is available from 9am – 5pm to help

with local information, directions and tours.

The Bellman/ Bell Station located at the main lobby entrance can assist you in ordering taxicabs. After 11pm guests

can go to the front desk which is open 24 hours.

Pool Access

Access to the pool area of the meeting venue is for hotel guests only. This area is manned by security. Your meeting

badge does not grant you access to these restricted areas.

Smoking

The JW Marriott Hotel is a non-smoking hotel. Smoking is prohibited in the hotel, except in designated smoking areas

which will be outside the main entrance.

Accessibility

The JW Marriott is fully wheelchair accessible. 32 guest rooms are accessible with mobility features with entry or

passage doors that provide 32” of clear width. Accessible guest rooms have a 32 inch wide opening. Moreover, public

areas and elevators in the hotel are fully wheelchair accessible. For more information call the general manager of

the hotel.

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Emergency Numbers and Dialing Codes

Should you require contacting the emergency services in Austin (police, ambulance or fire) the number to dial is 911.

If there is no 911 service, the contact numbers that can be used are:

Emergency Numbers

Police Station City of Austin Police Department 715 E 8th St, Austin, TX 78701, USA Phone: +1 512-974-5000

Hospitals – 24 Hour Emergency Care

St. David’s Medical Center 919 E 32nd Street Austin, TX Phone: +1-512-476-7111

Walgreens – 24 hrs. 2020 E Riverside Dr. Austin TX Phone: +1-512-326-5228

Paramedics will be available on the 4th floor of the conference and events area.

Amenities in the JW Marriott Hotel:

Business Amenities Food & Drink Amenities General Amenities

Copy service Coffee/tea in-room Gift shop

Fax service Osteria Pronto Mobility accessible rooms

Messenger service Corner Restaurant Newspaper delivered to room,

on request

Overnight delivery / pickup Burger Bar Phone calls: toll-free

Starbucks Valet dry-cleaning

Lobby Bar Concierge Lounge Hours

Rooftop Pool Bar & Cabanas Concierge desk

Pool

Spa & Fitness Room

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The Venue Floorplan

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Registration and Payment

SMBE 2017 Meeting Secretariat

MCI Dublin

1 Clarinda Park North

Dun Laoghaire

Co. Dublin Ireland

Email: [email protected]

Tel: +353 (01) 2802641

Fax: +353 (01) 2805405

SMBE 2017 registration and information desks will be located in the foyer area of level 4 of the meeting and events

space for the duration of the Meeting. The SMBE team will be available at the times listed below for general meeting

queries and information.

Registration Desk Opening Times

Sunday, July 2nd 02:00 pm – 06:30 pm

Monday, July 3rd 7:45 am – 05:00 pm

Tuesday, July 4th 08:00 am – 05:00 pm

Wednesday, July 5th 08:15am - 05:00 pm

Thursday, July 6th 7:45am - 11:30 am

Registration Details

The SMBE registration includes:

Access to all sessions during the conference

Morning break, lunch and afternoon break

Welcome Reception ticket

Access to the conference web based App (including the conference program, speaker profiles and abstracts)

Wireless internet access in the conference area

Delegate Bag

Payment for the Meeting

Full Payment is required in order to gain entrance to the meeting. You will be asked for credit card details at time of

registration if your account has not been paid. Please note that cash is not accepted. If you have not yet paid please

do so by calling the SMBE 2017 Meeting Secretariat at +41 44 80 94 200

The SMBE Meeting Secretariat can be contacted for any information regarding the meeting:

Tel: +41 44 80 94 200 / Email: [email protected]

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Onsite Registration

Registration Type Onsite Rate From June 16th 2017 One Day

SMBE Member USD 625.00 USD 225.00

SMBE Non - Member USD 725.00 USD 225.00

Student Member USD 495.00 USD 225.00

Student Non-Member USD 545.00 USD 225.00

Post doc Member USD 600.00 USD 225.00

Post doc Non-Member USD 670.00 USD 225.00

Receipt of Payment

If you registered online or by bank transfer an official receipt was sent to you once full payment was received. If you

require a copy of your official receipt of payment please email the Meeting Secretariat at smbe2017@mci-

group.com and we will email you a copy after the event. We do not have the facility to produce receipts at the

registration & information desks onsite.

Meeting Information

Language

English is the official language of the meeting.

Childcare

SMBE will have onsite childcare for young children.

All onsite childcare must have been pre-booked during registration. Specific details will be sent directly to those

availing of the service. There are plenty of opportunities at local Summer Camps for slightly older children. Our

friends at the JW Marriott have recommended the following site for more details - Camp Guide.

Delegate Badges

Upon arrival at the meeting venue you will be required to pick up your delegate badge and any accompanying person

tickets (if you have previously purchased them) at the SMBE registration & information desk. Registration will be by

last name and signage at the registration desk will direct to you the correct desk. Badges must be worn visibly at all

times in view of security for access procedures.

WIFI Access

There is complimentary wireless internet available to all SMBE meeting attendees in the meeting rooms and foyer

areas. There is also complimentary wireless internet available to all SMBE guests staying in the JW Marriott Hotel.

Please find below the WIFI Access information:

Network: JW Marriott Conference

Password: smbe2017

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Social Media

Join the conversation on Facebook, and Twitter using the official SMBE community hash tag #SMBE17 and engage

with our online community in the following days.

Share the best content and key takeaways of the sessions with delegates and the extended community

Follow @OfficialSMBE and engage with other members

Ask the online community for advice

Share your challenges and case studies

Share your pictures and videos by using #SMBE17

Catering

Lunch and Coffee Breaks are included in your delegate fee and will be served in the Griffin Hall on the second floor

of the conference and events area. The printed program details the times of the lunch and coffee breaks each day.

Welcome Reception

Date: Sunday, 2nd July

Venue: JW Marriott Hotel / Level 3 – Lone Star Ballroom

Time: 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm

Amount: Free of charge for meeting attendees

Fireworks

Date: 4th July

Location: Downtown Austin at Vic Mathias Shores (Formally Auditorium Shores)

Time: 9.30 pm

Amount: Free of charge – public event

Conference Dinner

The conference dinner will be held in the Alumni Center of the University of Texas. It is an informal evening aimed

to get to know the other delegates in a relaxed, informal environment.

Date: Wednesday, 5th July

Venue: University of Texas Alumni Centre

Shuttle Buses: Buses will be available from the J.W Marriott to the Alumni Centre.

Departure times: Will be noted on the app & in the registration area.

Time: 7:00 pm (for 7:30 pm)

Amount: $75.00 for full delegates – tickets must be pre-booked

The Conference dinner includes:

2 drinks

1 buffet meal

Cash bar available for additional drinks

There are still tickets available for the Conference Dinner. Tickets can be purchased at the new registration/ queries

desk no later than Tuesday 4th after the lunch break. Please note only credit card payment is accepted.

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Conference Dinner – After Party

Venue: Antone’s Nightclub / Location: 305 E 5th Austin, TX 78701

Shuttle Buses: Buses departing the Alumni Center after the Conference dinner will stop at this venue for delegates

who wish to attend the after party.

Departure times: Will be noted on the app & in the registration area.

Time: 9pm till close

Amount: Upstairs room free for all SMBE 2017 attendees. Cover charge for downstairs music show is $2.50 with

SMBE 2017 badge. Drinks available for purchase.

Dietary Requirements

If you have confirmed a specific dietary requirement during the online registration process you will find a label on

your badge to show to catering staff. If you have not confirmed this information prior to the Meeting we cannot

guarantee availability. Alternatively, there are a number of restaurants located in and around the hotel including

Starbucks.

Delegate Program

Please note that the final program is correct at time of printing. For any changes please refer to the SMBE 2017

meeting website, the notice board and Twitter. https://twitter.com/OfficialSMBE

Conference App

There will be a Conference App available during the SMBE Conference. To access the SMBE Conference App, go to

www.eventmobi.com/smbe on your device (works on phones, laptops and tablets). There’s no need to download

anything, and the app will allow you to personalize your schedule, connect with other delegates, explore posters

and get all the latest updates from the SMBE 2017 team.

Certificate of Attendance

Certificates of attendance will be emailed to delegates post meeting.

Evaluation Forms (Online)

We value and respect our attendee feedback on all aspects of the meeting. An evaluation form will be available

online from the meeting website, and can also be filled out by the app from Thursday July 12th.

The link to the online evaluation form will be emailed to all meeting delegates and will also be available on the SMBE

Website. Your feedback contributes to the enhancement of future SMBE meetings and we appreciate your help in

completing this evaluation form

SMBE 2017 Abstracts

Your delegate bag will contain a printed delegate program. It does not contain a printed abstract book. SMBE 2017

abstracts are available online only. There are no facilities at the meeting to print abstracts.

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Oral and Poster Presentations

Presenter Guidelines

All oral and poster presenters have been sent presenter guidelines. Please ensure to read these carefully so you

know what is required of you on arrival to the meeting venue. They are also available on the website at

http://www.smbe2017.org/poster-guidelines/.

Poster Printing in Austin

Poster printing is available in Austin. There are two FedEx Offices near the venue, one of them is even located in the

JW Marriott Austin.

FedEx Office at the JW Marriott Austin

The FedEx Office® Print & Ship Centre in the JW Marriott Austin offers you virtually everything you need to meet

your convention exhibiting needs. The services include:

Saturday Service

Accepts Cash

Purchase packaging supplies

Make a merchandise return

Express

Ground

Please submit your orders online and they’ll have them waiting for you at the JW Marriott Austin when you arrive.

For more information on their services please click here.

Poster Printer Contact Details:

Fax: +1.512.499.0124

Email: [email protected]

FedEx Office Print & Ship Center

The FedEx Office Print & Ship center in the Congress Avenue offers you a wide variety of services. The services

include:

Saturday Service Accepts Cash Purchase packaging supplies Make a merchandise return Signs and Graphics Direct Mail Services Copy and Print Services Hold Express package at location for pickup Hold Ground package at location for pickup Express Ground

For more information on their services please click here.

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Poster Printer Contact Details:

327 Congress Ave 100

Austin, TX 78701

(512) 472-4448

If using silk printing, the adhesive will not stick and the poster will fall down.

SMBE2017 Exhibition

The Griffin Hall on level 2 will house the Industry Exhibition, Posters and Catering. Please avail of this opportunity to

speak to all exhibitors, whose attendance supports this meeting.

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Exhibition Timetable

Day Times Action

Monday, July 3rd 2017 10:00 am – 06:00 / 08:00 pm Exhibition Open

Tuesday, July 4th 2017 10:00 am – 06:00 / 08:00 pm Exhibition Open

Wednesday, July 5th 2017 10:00 am – 06:00 pm Exhibition Open / Career Fair Day

Thursday, July 6th 2017 10:00 am – 12:00 am Exhibition Open

Career’s Fair Day – Connecting talent with jobs

The SMBE Careers Fair day will showcase and highlight careers in genomics, computational biology, bioinformatics,

personalized medicine, and related areas.

Date: 5th July

Location: Griffin Hall

Time: 10 am – 6:00 pm

General Information

Entry Requirements

All visitors from abroad who are planning to visit the USA must have a passport valid for at least six months longer

than their intended stay in the United States.

14 | P a g e

Depending on your nationality and the purpose of your journey, you may need a visa for entry into the United States.

If a visa is required, please contact your local American Embassy or Consulate.

Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travelers are advised to look for complete

information about the U.S. visa process. For more information click here.

Health Insurance

It is strongly recommended to arrange your own health and travel insurance prior to travelling to Austin. The meeting

organizers are not liable for any injuries or damages that may occur during the meeting.

Travel Insurance

It is recommended that participants obtain adequate cover for travel, health and accident insurance before they

depart from the country in which they reside.

Emergency Numbers and Dialing Codes

The numbers for police, ambulance, and fire and rescue services are all 911. The international dialing code for the

United States is +1 followed by the appropriate area code.

Currency

The US dollar is the currency used in Austin. Most establishments accept all major credit cards and ATM’s can be

found throughout the city.

Language

American English is the official language, but Spanish is spoken by many residents, too. English is spoken by about

2/3 of the population, whereas Spanish is spoken by 1/3. Throughout the history of Texas, English and Spanish have

been the primary dominant languages used by government officials.

Climate

For our visitors from Europe, please be aware that the latitude of Austin is comparable to Northern Africa (Cairo,

Egypt), and the sun is strong. If you are outside during the day, we recommend you wear a hat, sunglasses and

sunscreen.

Smoking

Please be aware that smoking is prohibited in public in Austin.

Banks and Exchange Offices

Regular banking hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm, although many branches have extended hours.

ATM machines are readily available and accept many international cards like American Express, Carte Blanche,

Diner’s Club, Discover, Visa and MasterCard.

Tipping

While tipping is not mandatory, it is usually customary in all sit-down restaurant establishments. Suggested tipping

varies on service satisfaction, but typically averages about 15% of the total meal cost.

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Electric Supply / Adapters / Chargers

120 Volts AC | 60 Hz - Electrical sockets in the United States are a two prong. Most electrics will function with an

appropriate adapter.

Shopping and Dining

Referred to as The Main Street of Texas, Congress Avenue is the heart of downtown Austin. Between the Capitol and

Lady Bird Lake you will find numerous shops, restaurants, museums, and theaters, all along one of downtown’s three

National Register Historic Districts. For a comprehensive guide of Austin’s downtown core, please click here.

For an Austin Insider Guide, please click here. For Austin Insider deals and discount, please click here.

Conference policies

Policy on harassment, discrimination and liability

SMBE and the Annual Meeting organizers are dedicated to providing a safe, hospitable, and productive environment

for all attendees. Accordingly, the SMBE Annual Meeting prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment.

Behavior that undermines the integrity of intellectual discourse and interactions will not be tolerated. This applies

to all conference participants, including staff, volunteers, and attendees. If a participant engages in harassing or

discriminatory behavior, the Meeting organizers reserve the right to take action ranging from a simple warning to

the offender to expulsion from the conference. If you have a question or concern about this policy or would like to

report an incident involving yourself or another person, please contact any member of the Organizing Committee or

email [email protected]. We take such issues seriously and will maintain your confidentiality (unless legally

compelled otherwise). The Organizers of the Annual Meeting shall not be responsible for any defamatory, offensive,

or illegal conduct of Meeting participants, and shall not be held liable for personal injury, property damage, theft or

damage of any kind suffered by the participants at or in connection with the SMBE Annual meeting.

Broadcasting policy

The SMBE Annual Meeting supports the communication and discussion of science. Information presented at the

Meeting (in oral or poster format) may be reported and discussed by attendees and science writers via blogs, Twitter,

or other formats, unless any of the authors requests otherwise. We do require that this be done respectfully and

without direct reproduction of visual materials (e.g., no posting of photos of slides or posters) unless permission is

obtained from the presenter or they have already made this information freely available in an open-source forum.

If a presenter does not want information from his/her presentation to be photographed or broadcast, they should

make this clear in their talk/poster and we ask that attendees respect this. If you have questions or concerns about

this policy, or would like to report an abuse of it, please contact any member of the Organizing Committee or

email [email protected].

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Austin map

JW Marriott,

Meeting

venue

17 | P a g e

We are looking forward to welcoming you to Austin.

See you soon!

SMBE 2017 Meeting Secretariat

Connect with us through social media using the official SMBE community hash tag #SMBE17 and stay up to date with

program changes and evening meet ups. You can also follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/officialSMBE

Meeting Secretariat

MCI Dublin Address: 1 Clarinda Park North, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, Ireland

Email: [email protected]